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Prince Alfred, Duke of Edinburgh and Saxe-Coburg and Gotha (1844-1900), Naval officer; second son of Queen Victoria

Sitter associated with 73 portraitsPrince Alfred, Duke of Edinburgh, joined the Navy in 1858, at the age of fourteen. On the abdication of King Otto of Greece in 1862, Alfred was chosen by the Greeks to succeed him, but political conventions made it impossible for the British government to accede to their wishes. Meanwhile, Alfred pursued his naval career. In 1863 he was promoted to Lieutenant and three years later to Captain. By 1893 he was Admiral of the Fleet. He was highly respected as a well-informed and able fleet leader.